Colorado senator's comments to rape victim drawing criticism

State Sen. Evie Hudak, D-Westminster, has come under fire for comments she made to a rape victim during a committee hearing concerning a bill banning concealed carry weapons from college campuses.

Amanda Collins, 27, of Reno, Nev., testified against House Bill 1226 before the Senate State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee at the Colorado Capitol on Monday.

Collins, a victim of rape, shared her story with the committee and said had she been permitted to carry a concealed gun, the incident may have ended differently.

Hudak disagreed.

"I just want to say that, actually statistics are not on your side even if you had a gun," Hudak said. "And, chances are that if you would have had a gun, then he would have been able to get that from you and possibly use it against you."

Kate Whitney, left, clutches the hand of Amanda Collins, right, in tears after the Colorado Senate State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee passed a bill March 4, 2012, that would ban concealed-carry weapons on college campuses. (Daniel Petty, Denver Post)

"The Colorado Coalition Against Gun Violence says that for every one woman who used a handgun in self-defense, 83 were killed by them," Hudak.

Collins said those comments were shocking and disturbed her deeply.

"I had a hard time falling asleep because I couldn't stop thinking about what she said to me," Collins said.

Hudak apologized to Collins, but her motive for doing so was questioned.

"I don't know how genuine it really was," Collins said.

The remarks have drawn criticism.

"It was outrageous," said Dave Kopel, a professor at the University of Denver law school and author of a law-school textbook on firearms law and policy.

RE-1 Valley School District has announced its policy for determining eligibility of children who may receive free and reduced price meals served under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program.
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